Mexican Navy Ship’s Departure Takes a Troubling Turn
On Saturday night, a New Yorker experienced a mix of emotions as he sent off a Mexican Navy ship, the Cuauhtémoc, which had a dramatic encounter with the Brooklyn Bridge.
Ismali Romero and her sister Miriam had a chance to interact with some of the 277 sailors aboard the Cuauhtémoc, which was docked at South Street Seaport earlier in the week.
“We were singing and saying our goodbyes. There was so much joy as they left,” Romero, 43, shared. “But then, as they approached the Brooklyn Bridge, it seemed like they hit it, and the top of the mast came crashing down.”
“People were scared. There was screaming and crying everywhere. Everyone was asking, ‘What’s happening?'” the healthcare worker recalled.
Miriam Romero, 50, was among a group of Mexican-American New Yorkers who welcomed the Cuauhtémoc when it arrived in New York earlier that week.
“I felt proud that the Mexican Naval Academy was visiting our city,” Ismali remarked.
The ship is on an eight-month training voyage that includes stops at 22 ports in 15 different countries. New York City is the third port on its journey, which also includes visits to Jamaica, Iceland, and Portugal.
After attending a welcome gathering, Miriam took seven sailors on a tour around downtown Manhattan, where they enjoyed some pizza before walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Unknown to them, just days later, the incident would leave 19 people injured.
“I have a son who is a US Marine, so it’s especially poignant for me,” Ismali said.
The Cuauhtémoc was constructed in Spain in 1982 specifically for training cadets.
In videos captured, the ship’s mast, towering at 147 feet, was lit up as it sailed down the East River.
With the arrival of Cuauhtémoc, residents of New York City got a sneak peek at the upcoming Sail 4th event, set to commemorate America’s 250th birthday.
The ship’s mission is to “boost the sailors’ spirit, enhance naval education, and spread messages of peace and goodwill from the Mexican people across the seas and ports of the world,” according to the Mexican Navy.
